With conversations - and banter - from Norton and Jules, this
documentary explores the educational, political and linguistic
back-story and lasting impact of “one of the great works of fantasy in American Literature” (Leonard S Marcus, author of The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth).

We follow Norton and Jules as they return to the house in Brooklyn Heights where Norton began writing a little story "to get his mind off of what he had to do." Working as an architect, Norton was awarded a grant for a book on Urban Perception, which he promptly didn't write. Instead, he created Milo. When he showed his notes to his neighbor, a young political cartoonist bent on overthrowing the government, Jules began sketching – and The Phantom Tollbooth was born.

Through the lens of Milo and his adventures, we get to know Norton Juster – an incorrigible punster with a "delight in glorious lunatic linguistic acrobatics" (Maurice Sendak, in his appreciation to the 35th Anniversary of The Phantom Tollbooth).
Bored as a kid, wondering why he had to learn so many useless facts,
Norton is Milo. And we get taken into Norton’s personal Phantom Tollbooth: where his imagination gets him in trouble for demoralizing the Navy battalion with his drawings of elves; where his friendship with Jane Jacobs and her critique of American cities shows up in Digitopolis and Dictionopolis; where “beyond expectations” takes on a personal meaning for Norton’s daughter and granddaughter as they confront their learning disabilities.

And there’s Jules Feiffer: “that rare artist who can
draw an idea," as Maurice Sendak writes in his appreciation. Or as Jules
puts it “this was the first children’s book I’d ever done and I thought
it was going to be the last. This was the Cold War Fifties, I was interested in overthrowing the government". We’ll look at Jules’ emergence as a voice of his generation through his comic strip at The Village Voice. How much of that era – the politics, the ideas, New York in 1961
– worked its way into his Phantom Tollbooth illustrations? Jules may
argue that he illustrated the book more as a favor to a friend – but we
just might find his wit, his deft criticism, his radical politics, embedded in those iconic sketches.

And then there’s the cast of authors, historians, teachers, fans, kids, and many more who all have their favorite parts: The Whether Man – “for after all it’s much more important to know whether there will be weather than what the weather will be;" The Island of Conclusions - which you can only get to by jumping; The Terrible Trivium "demon of petty tasks and worthless jobs;" and faithful Tock who just can’t stand to waste time, but does love a nice ride in an automobile.

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What are we going to use the funding for?We are currently mid-way through production – and are looking for funding to finish up by late fall. In the production stages, your support would allow us to interview more authors who have been influenced by the book, children who have been sucked into Milo's world, educators who teach the book year after year, as well as artists who were revolutionizing children's books in the 1950's and 60's. The funds will help us cover travel expenses and equipment. Moving into post production, funding will be used for archival footage, music, editing assistance, sound mixing, animation and graphic design, harddrives, DVDs, and all the other little things that add up!

Why Kickstarter?We want to connect to other people who love the book, who read it to their kids, who remember it from their childhood, who can't get enough of those drawings, of that word play. Despite the risks of making a film independently, there's a type of engagement and artistic freedom that just can't be rivaled. We're excited to have the room to play with the filmmaking and the footage, to take our time to really get to know Norton, Jules and all the other interviewees. Every day someone new tells us, as Jules Feiffer says, "that this book changed my life" - that it was their favorite book as a kid, or that they think about the Terrible Trivium while doing mundane tasks at work, or that they joke about a square meal at the dinner table, or that there is a little Milo in every child. We want to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary edition of the Phantom Tollbooth, and there's no better way to do that than to reach out and to get people excited. And we want you to revisit the book, and find, as we did, that it is just as funny and as wise as the first time you read it!

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Rewards INFO

Here's what the My Paper Crane TOCK doll looks like! Lovingly hand-made - imagine what your favorite character from the book could look like...

Here's some images of the INFOGRAPHICS print designed by the original and talented Jan Avendano. Not only is it beautifully designed, but it reminds us of Rhyme's words to Milo: "But it's not just learning that's important. It's learning what to do
with what you learn and learning why you learn at all that matters." Too cool and too perfect for the project -thank you Jan!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

0.58 BOY: Don't be average! Get a PERSONALIZED CERTIFICATE as a thank you from the filmmakers for your donation. We'll send it in the mail and everything - so you can put it on your bulletin board for all to see! (+ High-res download + website thank you)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $70 or more
About $70

THE DODECAHEDRON: "If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself." And what better way to do it than with a unique and beautifully designed poster-sized INFOGRAPHICS PRINT that visualizes the relationships in The Phantom Tollbooth (+ DVD + certificate + High-res download + website thank you)

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Pledge $395 or more
About $395

CHROMA: Orchestrate your own day - by CUSTOMIZING an even more extra special hand-made LARGE PLUSH DOLL of YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER from the book! A completely unique and custom reward! Another fabulous reward from our friends at My Paper Crane. (+ DVD + certificate + High-res download + website thank you)

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Pledge $500 or more
About $500

KING AZAZ: Argue that words are the best when NORTON JUSTER himself writes your name into a PERSONALIZED PUN! And we'll thank you in the film credits! (+ Signed copy of 50th Anniversary edition + DVD + certificate + High-res download + website thank you)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

RHYME AND REASON: Our journey would be futile without you! You'll get an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT in the film (+ Signed copy of 50th Anniversary edition + Special thank you in film credits + DVD + certificate + High-res download + website thank you)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

CASTLE IN THE AIR: You've made it (You've made our day!). You'll get an EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT in the film (+ Signed copy of 50th Anniversary edition + Special thank you in film credits + DVD + certificate + High-res download + website thank you)